“What did he say?” his mom asked as soon as the call connected, not even bothering with hello.
“I’m flying out of Pittsburgh tomorrow morning. Flight leaves at six fifteen. I need a ride to the airport.”
“Of course I’ll take you. Why don’t you go in tonight and get a hotel, though?”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Tanner sighed and closed his eyes. “I don’t even know where to begin on that. Oh, and before I do, I have some other calls to make, anyway. He… gods, Mom, he kissed another guy.”
He hadn’t meant to say it—it wasn’t her business—but he couldn’t hold it in.
“Aw, honey. He’s lost. He thinks you don’t want him. I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t want you.”
He’d known it, but that didn’t seem to be enough. “Thanks for saying that, Mom. I… I know that, but I needed to hear it from someone else. I’m trying to remember that.”
“It’s true. He wants you, baby. For now, you need to get your arrangements made. Focus on that. You can worry later. Make your calls. Let me see what I can do about a hotel for you. Do you have a car in Oregon?”
“Yeah, I got that already. Thanks, Mom.”
“Of course, sweetie. I’ll call you soon.”
His next phone call was going to be remarkably less pleasant, assuming they even picked up the phone. Tanner took a deep breath and dialed the Coopers’ number.
“Hello?” A young voice answered. It took Tanner a moment to figure out which one.
“Hi, Beth, it’s Tanner.”
“I’m not sure I should talk to you. You were mean to Fin.” Her tiny voice sounded fierce. He’d have been impressed if he didn’t feel so bad for why she sounded that way.
Tanner winced. “I know, honey. I’m very sorry for it. I’m hoping to fix that now, though. Can I talk to your mom?”
Beth gave a huge put-upon sigh. “Just a minute.”
Tanner couldn’t resist a small smile over that.
“Hello?” Mrs. Cooper answered.
“Hi, Mo—uh Mrs. Cooper.” He swallowed, feeling like he was about five again and on the bad end of his mom’s disapproval.
“Can I help you?”
Tanner winced again at the icy tone. He knew he deserved it. “First, I wanted to say it wasn’t my intention to make him miserable. I’m going to fix it, though,” he hurried to add when she sounded like she was going to speak. “I’m flying out there tomorrow to get him.”
Mrs. Cooper was silent for a long time. “You’re flying?” She sounded like she wasn’t sure she wanted to believe it.
“Three flights. The first one leaves Pittsburgh at six fifteen. I go through, uh, Denver, then Portland.” He frowned at the coffee table, trying to think of what else to say.
“Are you claiming him?”
He swallowed, frowning. “I can’t.” She growled. “I mean, I can’t yet. Not out there. I’m the future alpha, Mrs. Cooper.”
She sighed. “Right, yes. You have to at least strengthen the bond, though. You know that.”
He refused to blush. There was only one way to do that, and they both knew it. He didn’t care how open about sex in general shifters were, he still didn’t like discussing sex with either his or his mate’s parents. “I plan to. And I will claim him when we get back here.” He still hadn’t figured that part out. The thought of doing that with Finley in public, even pack public, still bothered him. But he’d worry about that part later.
“What do you need, hon?”
Tanner let out a sigh of relief. “I need his grandparents’ phone number. When I called earlier, Fin had shifted and run off.”
“He’s probably just upset. I’ll have Jacob text you the number.”
Tanner couldn’t contain the feeling in his chest when her voice warmed. “Thank you, Mrs. Cooper.”
She paused for a long moment. “When you’ve claimed him, you’ll call me Mom again.”
Tanner smiled. “Thanks. I look forward to it.”
BY THE time he’d hung up with Finley’s grandparents, Tanner’s wolf was clawing at him again. Finley still hadn’t been found. Jamie had taken off after him but returned two hours later empty-handed. Apparently Finley’s scent was all over the woods and Jamie couldn’t seem to pinpoint a single direction. That didn’t do much for Tanner’s heart. He focused again on the tasks he had yet to do.
Tanner dialed the number Finley’s grandfather gave him for their local alpha. “Todd Marshall.”
“Good afternoon, sir. This is Tanner Pearce from the Forbes pack in Western Pennsylvania.”
“Tanner, what can I do for you?”
He took a deep breath. “Alpha, my mate… my intended, destined mate is staying with your pack right now. Finley Cooper.”
“I see,” Alpha Todd said, and Tanner felt the temperature drop over the line.
He screwed up his human courage and his own alpha confidence to reply. “I am flying out to Oregon tomorrow to get him. I can’t claim him, as I’m sure you’re aware, not there. But I am coming to get him, and I’m calling to let you know I’ll be in the area.” He took a deep breath. “And to ask for your help. Finley shifted and took off a few hours ago and hasn’t been seen since. If he doesn’t come back….”
“Tell me what I can do to help, son,” Todd said.
Tanner let out the breath he was holding. “I know just shifting and taking off doesn’t seem like a big deal. But… the way he left, something isn’t right about it. His… friend, Jamie is looking for him. So is his grandfather. If he’s not found by the time I get there, I’m going to need help. As many of the pack as I can get to go looking.”
“We’ll be ready, son. I’ll call Lily and get it set up.”
“Lily? Oh, his grandmother. I’ve only ever heard her referred to as Grammy.” Todd chuckled. “Thank you, Alpha,” Tanner managed.
“We’ll find him, son,” Todd said, and even over the phone, even though Todd wasn’t his alpha, Tanner felt the alpha comfort come through.
“Thank you, Alpha,” Tanner said again.
“You’re welcome, son. See you tomorrow.”
His emotions threatened to overwhelm him, but he held on. Part of that, he knew, was his wolf, who was so worked up over their mate. Part of it was his human emotions. The human side of him was going just as nuts as his wolf was. He needed to get out there now, not more than twenty-four hours from now. He needed Finley in his arms, not Mercury knew where in the woods.
As soon as he disconnected and set his phone down, it rang again. Tanner snatched it up and was actually disappointed to see his mother’s number. “Hi, Mom.”
“I have you booked in the Hyatt attached to the airport for the night. Check-in is in a few hours, and you can walk right into the airport in the morning. Would you like my help packing?”
Tanner hadn’t even given much thought to that. “I… yeah, actually. I could use the help. I don’t even have an actual suitcase,” he said, shaking his head. “I haven’t done much traveling.”
“That’s quite all right, dear. I have a few suitcases and have done plenty of traveling. I’ll be there in about half an hour.”
TRUE TO her word, Tanner’s mom knocked on his apartment door exactly thirty minutes later.
“Thanks, Mom,” he said, pulling her in for a hug.
She returned it, letting him hold on for a few minutes. Finally, they pulled apart. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. I’ve been looking forward to you being mated.” She patted his cheek. “I’m glad it’s finally happening. Do you have any clean clothes?”
Tanner blushed. “I know how to do laundry!”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Of course you do. But have you done it?”
Tanner scowled. “I have enough to take with me.”
She laughed. “Fair enough.” She picked up the red rolling suitcase she had with her and brought it into the apartment. “You worry about your computer and things, and I’ll take care of the clothes.”
“I�
�ll get my own underwear,” he muttered, hurrying ahead of her into his room. “Set it on my bed.”
He blushed when he realized he hadn’t made it, but she didn’t say anything, just set the suitcase in place and opened it. He dug out his underwear and tossed it in the case, then before she could turn around, grabbed the bottle of lube he kept in the side table. He wasn’t about to be unprepared, dammit. Once he’d taken care of those two embarrassing things, he turned to his mom. “I’ll go pack my laptop and stuff.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe my mother is packing my suitcase to go pick up my mate.”
“If you had more time, you’d do it yourself. But you don’t. Take the help.” She waved her hand toward the living room where he had his desk.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, as he started out
“And make me a cup of coffee!” she called.
Tanner laughed and detoured toward the kitchen.
Chapter Nine
TANNER SAT on the side of the bed and buried his face in his hands, trying not to let panic take over. He desperately wanted the phone to ring, but it had been staying stubbornly silent. He had no idea how he was going to get through the next eighteen hours.
He wasn’t entirely sure how he’d made it through the last six. He’d checked into the hotel just before six o’clock. He’d gotten into his room, pulled out what he’d needed for the next morning, then proceeded to…
…pace and grumble and curse—himself and the fates and everything else he could think of.
Then he prayed to Diana and Mars and Mercury and every god he could think of. Several times over.
He was exhausted, but he knew there was no way he was going to get to sleep. He was too anxious about spending nearly ten hours on three separate planes. He was more anxious about news of his mate or, rather, the lack thereof.
Finley still hadn’t been found.
His mate’s grandparents had promised to call the second they knew anything. Even Jamie promised to call if there was news. Tanner kept telling himself a friend was all Jamie was and all Jamie ever would be. He had to say it over and over again, though. His wolf didn’t really believe it. But Tanner also told himself if Finley had broken the bond, he’d know. Which he believed. Even if he had to force himself to believe that.
The lack of news was driving him, and his wolf, completely insane. If Finley had just gone for a run, Tanner wouldn’t be this nuts. Hell, hadn’t Finley spent two days in wolf form just the week before? The problem wasn’t that he was out there in wolf form. Tanner was worried about how it’d happened. Finley had never lost control of his wolf like that before. Not since he’d been a pup learning about all things wolf.
It smacked of instinct to Tanner. His wolf reacted to something—Tanner suspected it was that sound he’d made—and took over. He just didn’t know what to think about it. Had it scared Finley’s wolf? Or was it something else?
So the fact that Finley still wasn’t back yet worried Tanner more than a little bit. He was, in a word, terrified. What if Finley’s wolf wouldn’t let go? What if Finley was trapped in his wolf?
What if Finley stayed wolf and never came back?
Tanner couldn’t let himself think that. That was a direct path to insanity.
It didn’t help that he felt responsible for it. Whatever had been the actual cause, whatever had sparked the shift, happened while he’d been on the phone with Jamie. But more than that, if he’d just claimed Finley like he’d asked over and over again, Finley would never have been in Oregon to begin with. A phone call wouldn’t have been needed at all. Instead, he’d let his fears get the better of him, and Finley was now Mercury knew where in wolf form and completely out of reach.
He needed a plan to find Finley when he got there. It was the only constructive thing he could do.
Tanner jumped to his feet and paced to the window of his hotel room. His wolf paced with him, just under the surface, as desperate to get to their mate as Tanner was. He needed to be there six hours ago, not eighteen from now.
He turned away from the window and made the trip across to the door, then turned around again. Without knowing what Finley was thinking, Tanner had no idea where Finley would go. Jamie had said Finley had looked like he’d been shot. That said to Tanner that Finley was scared. So if he was scared, there were two distinct, polar opposite possibilities.
If Finley was scared of him, Finley could have run away from his grandparents’ place. He could have run exactly opposite of any place Tanner might end up being, away from anywhere Tanner might go.
On the other hand, if Finley had been scared for him, that meant a whole different direction. Instead, Finley might be trying to get to him. The problem was, if his wolf was in control, what might be considered logical to him as a human might not be logical to Finley’s wolf.
Which could mean he’d go to any of a million different places.
His wolf wouldn’t necessarily think of the airport. Would Finley—with the wolf in control—try running back to Pennsylvania?
The thought sparked all sorts of terror in Tanner’s mind. While they, as wolves, were definitely high up on the food chain, they weren’t necessarily the top. Finley was a good fighter; Tanner had seen it himself. But there were bears and other animals in those mountains that outweighed Finley by more than twice his mass. Tanner didn’t have to worry about Finley running out of food or getting cold. That, at least, would be taken care of with Finley’s wolf instincts.
Still, there were plenty of other dangers and Finley’s instincts would only go so far. No matter which direction Finley went, if he strayed too far from pack territory, it could spell disaster in more than one way. If another pack got scent of him in their territory without notice, they could give him trouble, especially if he hunted there. He could be captured, kept by the pack, or if he refused to shift and defend himself, even get killed.
Tanner stopped pacing, rubbing his hands over his face. It was all conjecture. Until he could talk more to Jamie—Tanner had to actively fight his wolf’s urge to growl—and Finley’s grandparents, he couldn’t be sure what had happened. Even then, until he literally got his nose to the ground, there wasn’t much he could do. And on top of that, Finley will have been gone for a day and a half. His scent would have faded quite a bit by that time.
With no scent and no real understanding of why Finley would run, Tanner was left with nothing more than educated guesses and a fragile, thin bond to rely on. A bond he wasn’t even sure Finley believed in. A bond he desperately hoped held solid between them. A bond he was more than a little afraid was already broken.
With a groan, he went back to pacing.
BY TWO, Tanner had drunk both cups of horrible hotel room coffee that had been in the basket, as well as the four more they’d brought him from room service, which were only marginally better. The caffeine wouldn’t do much for him; he metabolized it too quickly. He couldn’t resist, though, hoping a taste he loved so much might calm him. And the process of making it was something to occupy his mind, if only for a few minutes.
He’d showered, but it hadn’t distracted him in the least. Instead, he ended up wondering what it would be like to shower with Finley. He remembered the multitude of shower jerkoff sessions he’d had before he’d moved out of his parents’ house. All because he hadn’t yet claimed his mate. It was a testament to his emotional state that, despite the memories, his dick didn’t even stir a little. For once he didn’t mind it, though. He had every intention of strengthening their bond—which meant making love to Finley—at the first even remotely reasonable opportunity. Knowing that, he could wait.
He’d checked his e-mail, but there’d been very little to actually do. He sent a few replies, forwarded his itinerary to his mother and Finley’s grandparents, and confirmed his car rental again. He realized how desperate he was getting when he found himself actually reading the spam: advertisements for new cars and specials at this website or that. When he almost clicked on “Enl4rge your m3mber!” he finally cl
osed it down.
So, he’d turned his attention to work. But that had been even less engaging than the e-mail. He didn’t know why he thought editing the code for a website would distract him. Same with Facebook. After the fifth kitten meme, a handful of videos of someone’s dog barking, and yet another picture of someone’s dinner—wasn’t that what Instagram was for?—he’d been forced to admit defeat there as well. He thought about watching one of Finley’s werewolf movies—to feel closer to his mate—but the only one he could find on Netflix also involved sparkly vampires. Though he’d laughed with Finley over how close they had gotten to the wolves, if too ridiculously large, he still wasn’t interested in the rest, especially without Finley there. He’d turned the TV on for the sum total of about ten minutes. When he’d made it through the rotation of channels for the twelfth time without settling on anything, he gave it up too.
He didn’t even bother trying to sleep.
He glared at the bright green, mocking numbers on the clock. He was sure it was running slow. Never mind that a digital clock couldn’t, he swore it was. The numbers just weren’t changing fast enough. Five couldn’t come soon enough. And it was still horribly far away.
Tanner’s wolf paced with him as he made lap after lap from the door to the window and back again. His wolf wanted out in the worst way, but even if there’d been somewhere to go nearby, he couldn’t risk it and possibly miss the flight. His sense of time, especially smaller increments of it, was too skewed in wolf form. He was ruled more by the sun and moon than numbers on a clock, which, of course, he wouldn’t have as a wolf. All of that was assuming his wolf would give him back control to begin with.
Tanner wasn’t entirely positive of that. So it was better not to take the chance.
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